Lee said the meeting did not focus on the Washington State loss but the future.

“It was about what we do after that point,” Lee said. “I think everyone got it.”

Lee, defensive end Devon Kennard and linebacker Hayes Pullard were among those who spoke at the meeting.

Moments before that, backup quarterback Max Wittek also contradicted Kiffin. When he announced Cody Kessler won the quarterback spot, Kiffin said, “I spent more time with the guy who doesn’t get (the starting job). I spent time with Max making sure he’s ready to go.”

Wittek rebutted that version and said, “That wasn’t an extensive conversation. It was real brief.”

At least starting quarterback Kessler did not contradict Kiffin. But Kessler admitted winning the starting job offered a huge sense of relief for him.

“The first two weeks, I’d be lying if I didn’t say it’s tough to focus on the game when you’re competing for a spot,” Kessler said. “It’s a newfound confidence (now). I’m not saying it as an excuse. But you get more excited and more control of the team.”

Lee meets with Kiffin

One meeting Kiffin did know about was his meeting with Lee on Sunday to tell the junior to stop trying too hard.

“We’ve gone back to some basics with him,” Kiffin said Lee is “pushing himself a little too much, trying a bit too hard, which is very normal. He’s going to have frustrations because we are not playing really well on offense.”

Lee also addressed Saturday’s booing and the “Fire Kiffin” chants.

“Fans being fans. They are on the outside not on the inside,” Lee said. “Kiffin is going to be there and we are going to continue to keep it going.”

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Kiffin explains his job

Kiffin defended himself against his conservative game in the Washington State loss.

“We’re not trying to lose,” he said. “Just because we run the ball doesn’t mean you aren’t trying to win. That’s what my job is to do, it’s to win games.”

Redd still out

Tailback Silas Redd did not wear football shoes and continues to miss practice because of his injured knee. Other players who did not practice were cornerback Anthony Brown, defensive end Greg Townsend and defensive tackle J.R. Tavai.

Madden makes mark

Tailback Tre Madden is the first USC running back to gain 100-or-more yards in the first two games of the season since 1981.

“That’s not really how we’d like the numbers to be, but he was playing so well, and he was actually getting stronger as the game was going,” Kiffin said.